Portland State University is reportedly offering its students the chance to take a course in “Revolutionary Marxism.”
Students will learn the fundamentals of Marxist theory, apply a Marxist analysis to current events, and apply Marxist theory to local political and community organizing.
According to 5440orfight.com, the Oregon blog which first reported on the existence of the class, both instructors for the Revolutionary Marxism class are members of the International Socialist Organization.
The course curriculum requires students to attend four events by Occupy PSU, Occupy Portland, MeCHA, NAACP and other approved groups.
The syllabus reads:
The onset of the Arab Spring, revolts in European capitals against austerity, and the emergence of Occupy Wall Street here in the US have made the need for understanding revolutionary political theories [more] urgent than ever.
This course is designed to introduce students to the basic concepts of Marxist thought with an emphasis on the practical applications of Marxist Theory in local political struggle. We will focus on four major areas throughout the semester, including theFundamentals of Marxist Theory, Marxism and Oppression, Revolutionary Practice, and The Future of Socialism. In exploring these four areas of focus, the course will compare and contrast revolutionary Marxism to Stalinism, reformist socialism, leading academic interpretations of Marxism, as well as other radical leftist ideologies.
The required reading will be “The Meaning of Marxism” by Paul D’Amato, who was a distinguished guest at the 2010 Oregon Socialist Conference, which took place at Portland State.
It goes without saying that students will be expected to get good Marx.